Ponty expecting festive cracker

24 December 2011 19:44pm

By Graeme Gillespie

Pontypridd enjoyed a fine victory over Leeds in their latest outing last week.

The Boxing Day derby clash against Cardiff will provide a bank holiday treat for Pontypridd supporters, and an opportunity for the team to get their league campaign up and running following time out on British & Irish Cup duties.

A large crowd is expected at Sardis Road for the traditional festive fixture, the game on Monday 26th December kicking off at 2:30pm.

Whilst Ponty have been focusing on qualifying for the BIC quarter finals over the past few weeks, Cardiff have been making up lost ground in the Principality Premiership. Only five points now separate the clubs, Ponty in fourth place on 40pts, Cardiff in eighth place on 35pts but having played three more games.

League status, recent form and just about every other means of prediction tend to go out of the window before a derby showdown between these two rival clubs, with the encounters usually high on passion and drama and the end result usually tight, as in the corresponding fixture last season which ended in a 16-16 draw.

With no fresh injury worries, and the only withdrawal being prop Ken Knaggs on domestic leave for Christmas, Ponty make just two changes from the team that started in the BIC win over Leeds last time out.

Lewis Jones is drafted in at scrum half and Stuart Williams returns from injury to claim the loose head prop berth, whilst Blues prop Sam Hobbs takes up a place on the bench.

WRU International Skills Coach Jason Strange is a busy man, combining the new role with that of Wales Under 20 attack coach, Ebbw Vale head coach and continuing to teach at Ebbw Fawr Learning Community.

Warren Gatland and Sam Warburton look ahead to this week's crunch RBS 6 Nations tie against France, where the Wales skipper in particular is keen to make his mark, as Paris has proved a bleak place for him in the past.

Following their historic win over England, Wales Under 20 suffered a narrow, 36-34 loss to their Scottish counterparts last weekend, despite outscoring them by five tries to three. Watch the match highlights and reaction.

WRU TV go behind the scenes with the Wales squad as they put the final touches in place ahead of the clash against Scotland at Murrayfield. Follow the squad on their captain's run, the kickers visit to Murrayfield and Neil Jenkins' press conference